God and Men

Mark Dunagan
03/22/15 - Sunday Morning

God and Men

Brandon Clements wrote, “I was in line at Chickfila the other morning, and the perky cashier asked for my name, and I mumbled ‘Brandon.’ There was an older man standing a few feet away from me waiting for his food, and he took the opportunity to say, ‘What kind of name is Brandon?’ Well hello, morning whiplash.

‘Um… I don’t know. My parents gave it to me?’ Give me a break, it was early. The man proceeded to pull out a business card and explain that he was a genealogist. We made small talk for a bit and then he asked me what I did, so I told him I was a pastor at a church plant. ‘Oh,’ he said. ‘I go to _________ church down the road. I’m the organist there. I gotta do something on Sundays, you know?’ To be honest, this took me aback, because I felt like I was looking into the past at a bygone relic. ‘I gotta do something on Sundays’ is a telltale sign of church as hobby. I’m bored, so might as well get dressed up and go to church” (http://www.dearbiblebelt.com/why-men-hate-going-to-church/)

Christianity Makes a Poor Hobby

Because it was never designed to be a hobby, just like a low profile Honda was never designed to be an off-road vehicle. Jesus pointed out that being a follower of His is an all-or-nothing proposition:

• “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).
• “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).
• “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26-27). 

Many of the men that I admire did not need something to merely fill their time on a Sunday or Wednesday night. They were already busy. They could have found many things to do. 

What Jesus Does Offer?

A Meaningful Mission

Maybe some men are looking for religious entertainment, but I know of many men who can already find all sorts of things to occupy their time and entertain themselves. We don’t need a rock band at services, because we already have plenty of good and loud music of our own. We are looking for something far more meaningful. “When church services are more like war-time trainings that equip people for mission the rest of the week, men tend to be more willing to get out of bed. When church does community – not just country club-like socials – but real community where guys are elbow deep in each others’ lives fighting for one another, those same guys’ ears start to perk up” (Clements).

 I cannot think of a more courageous and manly thing to do then:

• Boldly speak the truth: Ephesians 6:19
• Confront people who are up to no good: Titus 1:9-11
• Go to battle against real evil, put up a united front, rather than role-playing my life away: Ephesians 6:12
• To rescue people who have been taken captive by Satan: 2 Timothy 2:24-26.
• To protect women and children.

An Epic Story to Tell

There are many stories that I have enjoyed reading over the years, these include various historical accounts of the Civil War, the Second World War, various feats of exploration and the fictional stories of Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings. Yet the Bible trumps all of these. 

• The eternal fate of the souls of men and women are in the balance.
• There is no greater foe (not even the Nazi’s) than Satan: 1 Peter 5:8
• There is no greater message that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son: John 3:16
• There has never been a higher price paid for man’s deliverance: 1 Peter 1:18-19.
• There is no greater reward than heaven: Revelation 21:4
• There is no greater punishment than hell: Mark 14:21
• There is no longer time than eternity.

A Fight/Struggle That Matters

There are many battles in this world that in the end don’t really matter. Far too many prizes, accomplishments and trophies that end up in the garage sale pile. People spend a lot of time and energy fighting for things that will not stand the test of time. On the other hand, God shows us a battle that matters. It is not a battle that He started, rather, it is a battle that resulted from the combination of Satan’s hatred for God and man and human rebellion. 

• It will be a very personal fight, one that is likened to wrestling and hand to hand combat: Ephesians 6:12
• It is a battle against powers that seem so daunting and overwhelming at times, “world forces” and “wickedness in high places”: Ephesians 6:12
• It is not a mere defensive battle, but one in which we are urged to go out and meet the foe, and take back captives: Matthew 28:19-20
• It is a battle in which God has given us everything we need to succeed: Ephesians 6:13
• It is a battle that involves the futures of all our loved ones and dear friends.
• It is a battle in which we can win and must win: 2 Timothy 4:6-8

The Foe is Determined

Just look at the aggressive and vocal nature of those pushing pornography, abortion, drugs, marijuana, homosexuality, false doctrine, and other vices. These forces are organized, vocal, often united, and determined. We must be more. For we are battling not for self-interest, but for God and goodness.

The Amazing Brotherhood

“Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17).

The church is pictured under many different images. It is a household (1 Timothy 3:15), a spiritual temple (1 Peter 2:5), a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9), and a marriage between us and Christ (Ephesians 5:23). It is also pictured as an army, or a brotherhood of soldiers, who are told repeatedly to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 1:18; 6:12). Jesus offers every Christian the chance to be part of a very close knit Band of Brothers. What makes the church such a tight knit group of people is:

• It is made up of all volunteers. We are all here because we want to be here. No one has been drafted into this army.
• It is made up of good and honest hearts, people who love the truth (Luke 8:15), and are willing to sacrifice everything and even die for the truth.
• It is made up of people who are honest about their sins, saw the need for Jesus in their lives and called upon Him for help: Acts 22:16
• It is made up of people who are willing to do hard things.
• It is made up of people who have lost family and friends in the process of following Jesus.
• It is made up of people who have indeed counted the cost.

Here is how the Holy Spirit has described this army:

• “Men of whom the world was not worthy” (Hebrews 11:38).
• “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death” (Revelation 12:11).

“The church in her purest form doesn’t produce lazy, detached men – she produces men who engage and speak life. She produces a man who fights for his family, for his community, and for his brothers. And (here’s the best news) – when he doesn’t, she produces other men who will go to war for him. Because that’s how soldiers work” (Brandon Clements).

If you are reading this lesson and find yourself thinking, “Wow, my life sounds rather uneventful and bland”. Ask yourself, “Is this what I really want my life to be all about?” Or, “Do I really want to be part of something meaningful and that will still be meaningful centuries from now?” So don’t talk to me about the world needs a “cooler” church – just give me the real thing and a group of people willing to fight the good fight.

Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net